Seedlings thrive in Gaotai's desert greenhouse boom

Farmers work in a greenhouse in Gaotai county, Zhangye, Gansu province. [Photo provided to gozhangye.com]

In Heili town, Gaotai county, Zhangye, the Gansu Xinlyuda Modern Agro-forestry Demonstration Park is bustling with early spring activity. Contractor Zhou Jun and his team are busy tending to pepper seedlings inside the gleaming greenhouses.

Zhou, who manages 36 greenhouses cultivating nearly 130,000 trays of seedlings, explained that the healthy sprouts, sufficient for 3,000 mu (200 hectares) of land, will be ready for transplanting by mid-April. This scene reflects the impressive growth of the local chili industry.

Heili town is harnessing its abundant sunlight to develop specialized agriculture. Local official Yang Qi noted that these natural advantages have helped turn chili cultivation into a cornerstone of the town's rural vitalization strategy.

Driven by leading enterprises and technology, the town's chili planting area has stabilized at over 5,000 mu.

This thriving industry not only boosts incomes for contractors but also provides local jobs. Villagers working in seedling nurseries and fields have become agricultural workers, gaining new skills while earning around 25,000 yuan ($3,621.79) annually.

By integrating enterprises and cooperatives, the town is expanding into large-scale melon cultivation alongside chili, forming a comprehensive industrial chain that benefits the entire community.